Lying on applications for state loans is the real fraud

Maybe they are finally starting to get it in Madison. Wisconsin’s beleaguered job creation agency, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, may finally be willing to punish those who lie on their applications when they stick their hands out looking for state money to create jobs. The problems at WEDC have been well documented, but only now are those who run the agency finally willing to get tough with those who don’t deserve state help. It has been a problem. At least two companies received loans through WEDC after making false statements on their applications. One of those loans, more than $1 million, has yet to be paid back, as does a loan to another company for $500,000. Neither company created any jobs after cashing the state checks. But even after WEDC found out about the ommissions and falsehoods on the applications, they didn’t get police involved. Under a proposal now being considered, companies which seek state help but lie on their applications would be turned into police. Amazingly, that is not the case now. We wring our hands about what people are buying with their food stamp cards in the name of fighting fraud, but are willing to let millions go out the door to companies that don’t deserve the money? It is good to see that our lawmakers may finally be ready to take on the real fraud that has cost taxpayers dearly.